New Music Monday: 5 Tracks Exploring Love, Loss, Redemption and Grit

Monday, 23 June 2025 00:05

From soul-searching ballads to gritty rock anthems, this week’s picks dive into love, regret, and the weight of hard choices.

Ready to discover what’s making waves in music this week? On The Countdown with Aaron Hall, we’re spotlighting five sharp new tracks—from gritty rock riffage to soul-stirring Americana. These picks bring fresh energy and deep lyrics to your airwaves. Let’s dive in.

1. Racing – “Mystery Love”

Auckland’s own Racing drop a sun-soaked, bluesy rock single that channels raw energy—highlighted by a blistering guitar solo. Praise is rolling in: NZ Listener called it “the prize for the best guitar solo in a NZ Music Month release.”

Recorded at Roundhead Studios, it’s the first taste from their upcoming third album, and they’re already road-testing it across the North Island. It’s pub-rock grit with real swagger.

2. Ben Nichols – “Fading Back Into the Night”

Lucero’s frontman goes solo with a haunting country-rock ballad about regret and redemption. Ben explains it’s a song about “missing the boat… fading away,” and likens stars vanishing at sunrise yet still being there somewhere.

The video—shot in Cleveland matches the song’s reflective mood. It’s the lead single ahead of “In the Heart of the Mountain”, out July 25.

3. Jesse Welles – “Pilgrim”

Out June 13, Pilgrim marks the lead single from Arkansas-born Jesse Welles, known for blending folk protest with personal storytelling. Clocking in at 4:39, the track previews his upcoming album, Pilgrim, due July 4. Backers on Instagram are hyped—it’s stirring a buzz—and fans describe it as his sharpest work yet.

4. Stephen Wilson Jr. – “Dig a Hole”

Premiering June 19, this atmospheric country-grunge track was written alongside Audra Mae and Hillary Lindsey for Netflix’s The Waterfront.

Wilson Jr. digs into dark family secrets with haunting vocals and a gothic tone—you can hear lines like, “harder than you think to dig a hole” echo throughout. The show dropped on June 19, and this single is a natural companion.

Plus, he’ll be onstage at Glastonbury on June 28.

5. Julian Taylor – “Dedication”

Toronto’s Julian Taylor (5× Juno nominee, former Staggered Crossing frontman) unveils a one-take UK studio session single, recorded with his touring band.

It’s an emotional anthem built on tight rhythm, killer guitar, vocal harmonies—and lyrics about wholehearted commitment in love, life, and craft. This first tease comes ahead of Anthology II, slated for September 10. In Huntsville on the weekend for National Indigenous Peoples Day, this track is a must listen.

That’s your lineup from The Countdown with Aaron Hall: five distinctive new tracks—packed with storytelling, grit, emotion, and sonic strength.

Whether you crave a burning guitar solo, introspective lyrics, or a cinematic soundtrack to your morning drive, these songs deserve to be heard. Cue ‘em up, enjoy the ride—and catch them live as they roll out on tour and radio.

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